The value of trees and plants in the urban environment is well documented: they improve air quality, shade against heat and provide an antidote to congestion, traffic and the pace of city life.

Making available significant ‘green’ living space is now virtually mandatory for cities around the world.

Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson and his Vision Vancouver team released the Greenest City Action Plan in 2011 with the goal of making Vancouver the greenest city in the world by 2020.

So how are we doing?

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have teamed up with World Economic Forum to create Treepedia, a site which measures and compares cities’ green canopies.

So where are the most nature-rich cities on our planet? Vancouver takes the top spot as the city with the largest tree canopy. See for yourself.

Last modified: March 17, 2017

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